Sandblasting apparatus

ABSTRACT

A sandblasting apparatus comprises a sand tube for the input of sand particles, a fluid tube for the input of a fluid substance, the fluid tube and the sand tube cooperatively defining an acute angle; a mixing chamber communicating with the sand tube and the fluid tube, a major output tube communicating with the mixing chamber; and an auxiliary output tube including a first part and a second part. The first part communicates with the mixing chamber and the second part. The second part extends towards the major output tube, offset from the axial direction of the first part. The axis of the second part and the axis of the major output tube cooperatively define an acute angle.

BACKGROUND

1. Technical Field

The present disclosure generally relates to a sandblasting apparatus.

2. Description of Related Art

Internal parts of vacuum coating apparatus, such as a rotating bracket, become coated with films during process of vacuum coating. The increasing thickness of the films can influence the performance of the vacuum coating apparatus. The films may be cleaned off by a sandblasting apparatus. The sandblasted particles can be mixed with hyperbaric air or hyperbaric water to strike the films with a high speed. However, to obtain a high cleaning efficiency, the sandblasting apparatus must be frequently adjusted to maintain a 45 degrees spraying angle relative to the film. As such, the efficiency of use of the sandblasting apparatus is low.

Therefore, there is room for improvement within the art.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

Many aspects of the disclosure can be better understood with reference to the figures. The components in the figures are not necessarily drawn to scale, the emphasis instead being placed upon clearly illustrating the principles of the disclosure. Moreover, in the drawings, like reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the views.

FIG. 1 is an isometric view of a sandblasting apparatus according to an exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the sandblasting apparatus shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is schematic cross-sectional view showing the sandblasting apparatus of FIG. 1 sandblasting an article with a flat surface.

FIG. 4 is schematic cross-sectional view showing the sandblasting apparatus of FIG. 1 sandblasting an article with a curved surface.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIGS. 1 and 2 show a sandblasting apparatus 10 according to an exemplary embodiment. The sandblasting apparatus 10 may be used for removing coatings from coated articles by spraying sand particles. The sandblasting apparatus 10 includes a sand tube 20, a fluid tube 30, a mixing chamber 40, a major output tube 50 and an auxiliary output tube 60. In this embodiment, the fluid tube 30 is integrally formed with the sand tube 20. The major output tube 50 is integrally formed with the auxiliary output tube 60.

The sand tube 20 is substantially tubular and straight. The sand tube 20 defines a sand inlet 22 at one end. The sand inlet 22 may be used for inputting sand particles. Another end of the sand tube 20 connects and communicates with the mixing chamber 40.

The fluid tube 30 is substantially tubular and straight. The fluid tube 30 defines a fluid inlet 32 at one end thereof. A gaseous or liquid fluid substance, such as air or water may be input into the fluid inlet 32. Another end of the fluid tube 30 connects and communicates with the mixing chamber 40. The fluid tube 30 may have a larger inside diameter than the sand tube 20. An included angle β is defined between the fluid tube 30 and the sand tube 20. The included angle β may be an acute angle. An acute angle ensures that the sand particles and the fluid substance mix rapidly, that the momentum of each is not reduced, and thus the forcefulness of the strike on a surface of an article is as high as possible. In this embodiment, the included angle β is about 45 degrees.

The mixing chamber 40 provides a room for the mixing of the sand particles and the fluid substance. The mixing chamber 40 connects and communicates with the sand tube 20, the fluid tube 30, the major output tube 50, and the auxiliary output tube 60.

The major output tube 50 is substantially tubular and straight. The major output tube 50 defines a major outlet 52 at one end thereof. Another end of the major output tube 50 connects and communicates with the mixing chamber 40. The major output tube 50 may be substantially coaxial with the mixing chamber 40 and the fluid tube 30. The mixed sand particles and fluid substance may be sprayed out from the major outlet 52.

The auxiliary output tube 60 is substantially tubular. The auxiliary output tube 60 includes a first part 63 and a second part 65.

One end of the first part 63 connects and communicates with the mixing chamber 40. Another end of the first part 63 connects and communicates with the second part 65. The first part 63 and the major output tube 50 cooperatively define an included angle γ. The included angle γ may be an acute angle. Preferably, the included angle γ is no larger than 45 degrees, ensuring a high speed of the sand particles.

The second part 65 extends towards the major output tube 50, offset from the axial direction of the first part 63. One end of the second part 65 connects with the first part 63. Another end of the second part 65 defines an auxiliary outlet 62. Axis Q0 of second part 65 may intersect axis P0 of the major output tube 50 at one point. In this way, sand particles spraying out of the auxiliary outlet 62 and sand particles spraying out of the major outlet 52 can be focused and strike at the same area of an article to be processed. An included angle θ is formed between axis Q0 of second part 65 and axis P0 of the major output tube 50. The included angle θ may be an acute angle. Preferably, the included angle θ is about 30 degrees to about 60 degrees. In this embodiment, the included angle θ is 45 degrees.

The vertical distance between the auxiliary outlet 62 and the mixing chamber 40 may be substantially equal to that between the major outlet 52 and the mixing chamber 40.

FIG. 3 shows the sandblasting apparatus 10 being used to remove a coating 74 formed on a flat surface 72 of an article 70.

During the sandblasting process, the major output tube 50 is perpendicular to the flat surface 72. The gaseous or liquid fluid substance at a high pressure is fed from the fluid inlet 32 into the mixing chamber 40 via the fluid tube 30. Sand particles are fed from the sand inlet 22 into the mixing chamber 40 via the sand tube 20. The sand particles and the fluid substance are mixed together in the mixing chamber 40, obtaining a mixture. Two beams or streams of the mixture from the mixing chamber 40 are sprayed out at a high speed from the major outlet 52 and from the auxiliary outlet 62 through the major output tube 50 and the auxiliary output tube 60 respectively. The two beams of the mixture strike the same area of the coating 74 at different angles. In detail, one beam of mixture from the major outlet 52 strikes the flat surface 72 perpendicularly, at point 76. Another beam of mixture from the auxiliary outlet 62 strikes the point 76 with a first force, from a different angle. The first force disintegrates or disperses into a vertical downward component F0 and a tangentially-orientated component F2. Component F2 has a relatively greater effect on removing the coating 74, thereby greatly enhancing the rate of removal of the coating 74.

FIG. 4 shows the sandblasting apparatus 10 being used to remove a coating 84 formed on a curved surface 82 of an article 80. In this embodiment, the curved surface 82 is concave. The sandblasting process may be performed as follows.

Axis Q0 of second part 65 intersects axis P0 of the major output tube 50 at a point 86 on the curved surface 82. Angular bisector L1 of the included angle θ is perpendicular to a tangent L at the point 86. That is, an included angle θ₁ between the L1 and L is a right angle. As such, the beam of mixture from the major outlet 52 strikes the point 86 with a second force. The second force disintegrates or disperses into a vertical downward component F0 and a tangentially-orientated component F2. The beam of mixture from the auxiliary outlet 62 strikes the point 86 with a third force. The third force disintegrates or disperses into a vertical downward component F0 and a tangentially-orientated component F1. The components F2 and F1 have a relatively greater effect on removing the coating 84 than the vertical downward components, thereby greatly enhancing the rate of removal of the coating 84.

The second part 65 of the auxiliary output tube 60 and the major output tube 50 cooperatively define an acute angle. The striking force of the beam of mixture spraying from the auxiliary output tube 60 disintegrates into a vertical downward component and a tangentially-orientated component. The tangentially-orientated component has the greatest effect on removing coatings from articles. So, frequent adjustment of the sandblasting apparatus to maintain an acute angle between the spraying direction and the surface being sandblasted is avoided, and the degree of skill necessary to use the sandblasting apparatus efficiently is reduced.

It is believed that the exemplary embodiment and its advantages will be understood from the foregoing description, and it will be apparent that various changes may be made thereto without departing from the spirit and scope of the disclosure or sacrificing all of its advantages, the examples hereinbefore described merely being preferred or exemplary embodiment of the disclosure. 

1. A sandblasting apparatus, comprising: a sand tube for inputting sand particles; a fluid tube for inputting fluid substance, the fluid tube and the sand tube cooperatively defining an acute angle β; a mixing chamber connecting and communicating with the sand tube and the fluid tube, the mixing chamber providing a room mixing the sand particles and the fluid substance therein; a major output tube connecting and communicating with the mixing chamber; and an auxiliary output tube including a first part and a second part, one end of the first part connecting and communicating with the mixing chamber, another end of the first part connecting and communicating with the second part, the second part offsetting from the axial direction of the first part and extending towards the major output tube, the axis of the second part and the axis of the major output tube cooperatively defining an acute angle θ.
 2. The sandblasting apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the major output tube is substantially coaxial with the mixing chamber and the fluid tube.
 3. The sandblasting apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein the acute angle θ is about 30 degrees to about 60 degrees.
 4. The sandblasting apparatus as claimed in claim 3, wherein the acute angle θ is 45 degrees.
 5. The sandblasting apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein the first part and the major output tube cooperatively define an acute angle γ.
 6. The sandblasting apparatus as claimed in claim 5, wherein the acute angle γ is no larger than 45 degrees.
 7. The sandblasting apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the acute angle θ is about 30 degrees to about 60 degrees.
 8. The sandblasting apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first part and the major output tube cooperatively define an acute angle γ.
 9. The sandblasting apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein one end of the second part away from the first part defines an auxiliary outlet, one end of the major output tube away from the mixing chamber defines an major outlet, the vertical distance between the auxiliary outlet and the mixing chamber is substantially equal to that between the major outlet and the mixing chamber.
 10. The sandblasting apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein one end of the sand tube away from the mixing chamber defines sand inlet.
 11. The sandblasting apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein one end of the fluid tube away from the mixing chamber defines fluid inlet.
 12. The sandblasting apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein all of the sand tube, fluid tube, and major output tube are tubular and straight. 